Polynucleotides and polypeptides that confer increased yield, size or biomass

Abstract

The present description relates to plant transcription factor polypeptides, polynucleotides that encode them, homologs from a variety of plant species, and methods of using the polynucleotides and polypeptides to produce transgenic plants having advantageous properties compared to a reference plant, including the traits of increased yield, size or biomass.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A transgenic plant comprising a recombinant polynucleotide encoding a polypeptide that comprises a conserved domain that has at least 89% sequence identity to amino acids 240-297 of SEQ ID NO: 2; wherein, due to expression of the polypeptide in the transgenic plant, the transgenic plant has an enhanced trait selected from the group consisting of increased plant biomass, large size, and increased yield, with respect to a control plant that has not been transformed with the recombinant polynucleotide. 
     
     
         2 . The transgenic plant of  claim 1 , wherein the conserved domain has at least 91% sequence identity to amino acids 240-297 of SEQ ID NO: 2. 
     
     
         3 . The transgenic plant of  claim 1 , wherein the conserved domain has at least 94% sequence identity to amino acids 240-297 of SEQ ID NO: 2. 
     
     
         4 . The transgenic plant of  claim 1 , wherein expression of the polypeptide is regulated by a tissue-specific, inducible, or constitutive promoter. 
     
     
         5 . A transgenic seed produced by the transgenic plant of  claim 1 , wherein the transgenic seed comprises the recombinant polynucleotide. 
     
     
         6 . A plant cell derived from the transgenic plant of  claim 1 , wherein the plant cell comprises the recombinant polynucleotide. 
     
     
         7 . A plant tissue or a plant material derived from the transgenic plant of  claim 1 , wherein the plant tissue or plant material comprises the recombinant polynucleotide. 
     
     
         8 . A method for producing and selecting a transgenic plant having an enhanced trait selected from the group consisting of increased plant biomass, large size, and increased yield, with respect to a control plant, the method including:
 (a) providing a target plant comprising a recombinant polynucleotide that encodes a polypeptide that comprises a conserved domain that has at least 89% sequence identity to amino acids 240-297 of SEQ ID NO: 2; wherein, due to expression of the polypeptide in the transgenic plant, the transgenic plant has greater plant biomass, large size, and/or increased yield, with respect to a control plant that has not been transformed with the recombinant polynucleotide; and   (b) selecting a transgenic plant that has greater biomass, large size, and/or increased yield with respect to the control plant, wherein the control plant has not been transformed with the recombinant polynucleotide.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the conserved domain has at least 91% sequence identity to amino acids 240-297 of SEQ ID NO: 2. 
     
     
         10 . The transgenic plant of  claim 8 , wherein the conserved domain has at least 94% sequence identity to amino acids 240-297 of SEQ ID NO: 2. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein expression of the polypeptide is regulated by a tissue-specific, inducible, or constitutive promoter. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the method includes the additional steps of:
 (c) crossing the transgenic plant with itself or another plant;   (d) selecting a seed that develops as a result of said crossing, wherein the seed comprises the recombinant polynucleotide; and   (e) growing a progeny plant from the seed.